Page:The Bab Ballads.djvu/75

Quiet in harness; free from serious vice,
His faults are not particularly shady,
You'll never find him "shy"—for, once or twice
Already, he's been driven by a lady,
Who parts with him—perhaps a poor excuse for him—
Because she hasn't any further use for him.

Oh! bride of mine—tall, dumpy, dark or fair!
Oh! widow—wife, maybe, or blushing maiden,
I've told your fortune; solved the gravest care
With which your mind has hitherto been laden.
I've prophesied correctly, never doubt it;
Now tell me mine—and please be quick about it!

You—only you—can tell me, an' you will,
To whom I'm destined shortly to be mated.
Will she run up a heavy modiste's bill?
If so, I want to hear her income stated.
(This is a point which interests me greatly),
To quote the bard, "Oh! have I seen her lately?"

Say, must I wait till husband number one
Is comfortably stowed away at Woking?
How is her hair most usually done?
And tell me, please, will she object to smoking?
The colour of her eyes, too, you may mention:
Come, Sybil, prophesy—I'm all attention.